THREE WEEKS LATER
Sweat drips from mynose, despite the cold, and my feet work circles into the dirt of the sparring ring. The somewhat indoor space is more like a barn or lean-to than it is an actual room, but at least it's got a few walls that will keep us partially out of the elements. The snow has finally let up, but the moisture has yet to end. The torrent of rain pelts the metal rooftop and streams off, causing puddles all around, but at least the ring is dry.
Ambriel’s smile widens as she circles with me, her onyx blades angled in toward her wrists, and she brings them up to blockher face. I mirror her stance, our feet in tune with each other. We have been doing this every day since I returned with Dax. I’ve been training physically, and I’ve been attempting to hone my skills with my magic.
Dax has been trying to help with my magic, but whenever he is around, it seems that both of our magic just wants to go haywire. Considering Dax hasn’t even used his magic consistently since his parents died, I don’t think he is the best choice to train me on it. But we try regardless. Much to Dax’s dislike, I’ve been meeting with Alaric every morning to train with him too. There is something about training with him that allows me to center my mind and focus. There is no distraction, and I can just be myself around him. Not that I can't do that around Dax, but Dax is always on edge. He's afraid of his magic, and I can feel the fear that he has in mine. I think that’s the problem with our control together.
As my gaze sweeps to the group of Fae that are approaching the training ring, Ambriel takes her shot with my distraction. She drops low, swinging her foot wide and taking mine clear out from under me. The force of which I land on my back, knocks the breath from my lungs. I gasp as I try to force air through my mouth and choke, coughing as she drops over me within the next moment. A wide smile on her face and a black blade to my throat. Proud of her achievement.
“You’ve been distracted lately.” She says as she spins the blade in her palm, then slides it into the sheath in the band across her chest. Standing, she extends her hand out to me. I clap my hand into hers, and she helps me to my feet.
“Yea. There is a lot on my mind. Have you had any other visions?” I can’t stop thinking about the vision she and I were pulled into, not but a week ago, right where we are now. In the middleof sparring, the contact of our skin took us—reeling through time and space. It has done nothing but haunt me since, and I have yet to tell anyone about it. All it would cause is more worry, and they don’t need that right now. Not with them constantly discussing and arguing about what the next step should be. I swear, if I didn’t hear the word dragon or battle at every meal I wouldn't know what was happening.
At the very least, I’m grateful that Kait and Ambriel have finally come around to getting along. They are more alike than they’d like to admit.
“You know I can’t say.” I know she’s right, but I still find myself asking.
“How’s that ass, my queen?” Dax slides his arm around my waist from behind and runs his nose up the side of my neck before kissing below my ear. I pull away from the tickle his breath causes and turn around to face him.
“Not as sore as my ego. Ambriel gives me a fair fight.” Trent chuckles, pulling my attention to the other two males walking up in stride. Trent was quick to forgive me and Alaric. It helps that something is going on between him and Ambriel, though neither of them will admit it. Alaric bends down, picking up the dagger that I dropped during my and Ambriel’s training. He offers it to me hesitantly. Dax is still not keen on him being around but refuses to talk about why. I don’t care to push him. Alaric and my bond with him keeps him here, regardless of what Dax may want. We are still trying to figure out exactly what the bonds with Alaric and Ambriel mean, but one thing I know is certain, they are under my protection. Each of them has grown special to me in their own way.
If I’ve learned anything since I ascended, it’s to trust my magic completely. Since I have embraced it, I’ve had more and morecontrol over the magic. I truly believe that is what's standing in the way with Dax. There is so much chaos with his shadows—because he doesn't trust them, or himself. Whatever happened with Dax and his magic in the past, he has no trust in the massive amount of power he holds. It’s why he’s kept his shadows such a secret for so long.
An angelic laugh flits through the space just as Alaric and Trent part Claire comes skipping forward with training gear on and blades strapped to her delicate figure. She was not made for battle, but there is no telling her that. She will train with any one of the guys if Ambriel, Kait, or I aren’t available. She’s as fierce as she is soft, when need be. Her biggest asset, though, is her mind. I swear that female is a genius when it comes to healing.
“Did you take a break from training with Ginny to slum with us?” Ambriel asks. She and Claire have hit it off almost immediately, bonding over their love of cooking.
“I’ve got to keep myself well-rounded.” She smirks, nudging Alaric with her shoulder as she joins us, and I don’t miss how Dax watches my reaction to that. Laughing, I elbow him playfully. He’s still holding onto the fact that Alaric and I have become close. Jealousy doesn’t suit him much, but it suits me just fine.
A flush warms my cheeks as I think about all the nights I’ve gotten to spend wrapped in his embrace again. I’d love for him to wrap me in his shadows, like the first night I had him back, but he’s refused to let them out. The burning embers of copper light behind Dax’s eyes for a flash, like his magic knows where my thoughts are. His Raven shines through, and I feel my own shining back at him—just for a second. His hand splays across my low back. Slipping under the fabric of my tunic and burning as his skintouches mine. He pulls me flush to him, and my tongue rolls out over my lips, anticipating his.
“You guys need to get a room,” Trent jokes, pulling Dax and me out of the bubble of space where only we exist. Alaric clears his throat, earning a glower from Dax, but Trent continues before either of them can say anything. “Actually, Maki sent us out to retrieve the queen and her ladies,” He places his hand on his stomach, holding his back ramrod straight as his other arm wraps around to the base of his spine. With a fake—pompous—prestige, he mocks Maki and his manners. Shaking my head, Ambriel chokes on a laugh, covering it with a cough.
“We need to have a meeting. The scouts returned this morning.” Dax says. The light atmosphere thickens with his words, and a heaviness settles over the group. I knew that this is what we’ve been waiting on. I knew the time would come when this feeling of normality would dissipate and the harsh reality would settle in. We have heard nothing from Demetrey, the dragons, or Cano for the last three weeks, and as nice as it has been, I have a feeling it’s only the calm before the storm.
Everyone files into the library, taking up various positions throughout the room. Maki is leaning over the table in the back, his hands splayed out on either side of his body, as he looks down at the parchment in front of him. He doesn’t lift his head as we approach. I've left the command of the soldiers to Dax, as he is most experienced, but with Alaric being my sworn shield, he is to be included. Which took some persuasion with Dax. He finally caved, reluctantly. When I come to a stop at the edge of the dark wood table, Alaric stops at my side and Dax on the other. The two of their dark auras seemingly engulf me as I stand between them.
“How bad is the news?” I ask Maki, and only then does he look up. First meeting my gaze, then sweeping the room, taking in who is all in attendance. He notes the two guards standing at the entrance and dismisses them before pulling the chair out at the head of the table and offering it to me with a bow. I’m never going to get used to this queen stuff. Maki makes a show of it more than any of the others. Dax says that just the way he is, but at times I wish that he would treat me no differently than any of the other Fae in the room.
“Honestly, it’s not good.” Maki says, and the wood protests on the stone floor as he pulls a chair out for himself next and sits heavily into it. Dax takes a seat to my left and Alaric to my right as the rest of them find seats around the table.
Maki pours himself a good measure of wine into his chalice and takes an equally good drawl from it before speaking again. “I had scouts head out in all directions. Most to the Demetrey border. We want to ensure that if an infantry force were to ascend on us, we would have a heads up. I also sent some to Ravendene and toward Castenelle.” My ears perk up at the mention of Castenelle, the craggy cliff-side town that my family was killed going to.
“The dragon has been spotted flying over the ocean near the cliffs of Castenelle, and there is a large hoard of Raskins lining the border there. While the other territories have had nothing to report. Something doesn’t feel right. Castenelle is nothing to usually be concerned about, but with this information? It's off.” Dax says next to me, placing a hand on my thigh under the table.
“The answer is simple, then.” I speak to the group. I fix my gaze on Dax.
“There’s nothing simple about any of this.” Alaric mutters under his breath.
“Do not. Interrupt. Your queen.” Dax spits back at him.
“Oh, fuck off.” Alaric leans back in his chair, and the room goes scary silent as tendrils of Dax’s shadows slip free. They climb out of his tunic, up his neck, and swirl around his body. Lightly, I press my hand over his that has tightened to almost painful on my thigh. He’s had trouble controlling his shadows since he released them, and after keeping them locked down for so long, it’s no wonder why. Not with a power like his, but he’s trying. For me.
“Itissimple.” I say it with a hint of command in my tone, side eyeing Alaric. I may not care when he talks to me so casually, but he knows that it upsets Dax. I swear he does it on purpose. “We need to get a team together and head to Castenelle. I want to get answers about my family’s death. I think whatever it was that they were trying to retrieve is important. There has to be a reason we feel like something is going on there too. All of it could be connected. I’m not sure what could be with the Raskins. We already know that somehow Soren and Cano have control of the dragon, which is an issue, but one we will face.”
Everyone looks around, and I make eye contact with each of them, save Dax. He has yet to look away from the door he has beenburning a hole in since Alaric opened his mouth. When no one says anything, I push my chair out, and it screeches on the stone floor. “Then it’s settled. We will leave in two days.”
“I’ll make preparations with the soldiers.” Maki says as he follows my direction and stands as well. Dax throws his chair back in a huff and storms from the room without another word. Trent lets out a low whistle after the heavy door slams, knocking a few books off the shelf that is close by.
